How to Make a Business Sign

Creating a sign is a fundamental way of marketing and advertising your business. Consider these ideas for successful signage.

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By Jennifer Gibbons

Overview

There are several options available for sign making today, but before you create and erect a sign, it is important to know the laws pertaining to signage in your county or city. In most cases, a permit is required to hang a sign. The permit also may have guidelines for the size of the sign face as well as the size of the letters applied to it. Remember to include the cost of a permit in your budget.

Step 1

Plan for the size and shape of your sign. You will need to decide the orientation, whether the substrate will be vertical or horizontal. Plan your lettering accordingly.

Step 2

Prepare your substrate by painting it if desired. Clean the substrate with an alcohol-based cleaner. Ready your substrate for lettering by drawing guidelines to ensure proper placement of letters.

Step 3

Apply the lettering to your sign. If you are painting, you can either letter freehand using your guidelines to keep things straight, or you can use a projector to trace the letters onto your substrate. Another option is to obtain vinyl lettering from a local sign retailer such as a home improvement store. You can order your lettering in the desired size and color. This option requires a squeegee or a flat tool that will help reduce air bubbles. If in doubt about how to apply lettering, ask the store clerk for a quick tutorial.

Step 4

Your sign is almost complete. In this step you'll want to clean the sign and ready it for hanging. You may also wish to apply a decorative border. Drill any necessary holes or apply hinges to your duplicate signs if constructing a sandwich board.

Step 5

Hang your sign in the designated area or set up your sandwich board according to the local ordinances.

skill

ingredient

A blank sign (known as a substrate)

Vinyl lettering, or paint for a hand-painted sign

Hardware for hanging the sign or a post to insert in the ground

Hinges and an extra substrate if you prefer to make a sandwich board sign

ingredients

A blank sign (known as a substrate)

ingredients

Vinyl lettering, or paint for a hand-painted sign